Roller-skate



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

GEORGE K. STILLMAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO. ,l

ROLLER-SKATE. i

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No; 90,603, dated May 25, 1869.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE K. STILLMAN, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Roller-Skates; and I dohereby declare the following to be a suiiiciently full, clear, and eXact description thereof to enable one skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in connecting the rollers of the skate to the foot-board of the same in such manner that the said rollers will be turned, cramped, or adjusted (in order to follow a curved track, right or left, agreeing with the bodily motion) by means of the strap or fastenin g device which encircles the foot of the skater, the said strap being connected to the frames which contain the rollers.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the bottom of the same.

A is the foot-board or stock of the skate, which may be of wood or iron. To the top side of the foot-board A crowning-plates B C are attached, on which the foot of the skater is permitted to roll, as the body is inclined right or left,.to turn a curve, the forward plate, C, being provided with a series of spikes, c, and the plate B with a center spike for the heel. The stock A is also provided, about midway between heel and toe, with rollers D E, over which the strap F rolls.

The rollers G of the ska-te, which are four in number, and constructed preferably of hard wood, are journaled in the frames H I, as shown, the frames being pivoted to the stock A at It and t', and having arms or lever h i, which connect at f f with the strap F.

The strap F is split, as shown, between the points ff', to permit of the vibration of the arms h i', and is fitted with two buckles, f

f', one on each side of the foot, for the pur pose of permitting adjustability to suit the skater.

Operation.

It will be seen that when the body of the skater is inclined to describe a curve, right or left, that the foot will roll over the foot-board A, and will forcibly revolve the strap F, which in its turn will carry the levers l1J fi to the opposite side to that on which the body is inclined. The rollers G are in this way so adjusted (see Fig. 2 that the skate will follow a curved track agreeing with the inclination of the bdoy.

I am aware that skates have been in use in which the rollers are adjusted to describe curves; but in these the Operation is performed by turning or canling the foot stand or stock, and springs are necessary to keep or return the rollers to the middle position. In these, also, there can be no provision for adj ustability to suit the fancy or requirements of the wearer.

I do not desire to conne myself to the use of rollers only, as it is obvious that icerunners can be attached in place of the rollers, and be operated upon in the same way and for the same purpose.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- The strap or fastening device F, which encircles the foot of the skater and attaches it to the foot-board A of a skate in such a manner that the rollers or runners will be turned or adjusted thereby, so as to run the skate in a curved line, right or left, substantially as described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GEO. K. STILLMAN. Witnesses:

GHAs. E. CALLAHAN, JOHN D. DAVENPORT. 

